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The Gingerbread (Android 2.3) for the DROIDX is finally ready. After 3 or 4 leaks, word from our sources that the .596 build had been finalized, and a “soak test” announced by Moto, Verizon appears to be ready to make it official. The support page for the DX has been updated with new GB information, including the entire change log which we’ve captured for you above. You are getting everything we saw in the leaks like the new blue Blur, ActiveSync fixes, and that snowy looking new fixed dock. The update will weigh in at 112MB.

I should point out that we’re still waiting for a date and for the soak test to finish, but when these documents go up on Big Red’s site, it’s usually a good sign that we’re within a week. So try to hold off from “pulling” at your phone’s system update page for now until we know more. We’ll hopefully have more in the morning. Sweet dreams.

Update: Verizon has notified the blog world that the update will be available on Friday (May 27).

*Note – When this does become available, we’ve heard plenty of word surrounding the root situation of this update which is not pretty. What I mean by that, is if you are currently rooted and want to stay that way, the update might not be the best thing to accept.

The update has been a huge mess for me; i am now on my third replacement DX since downloading GB on 06.05. i have spent hours on the phone with Moto & VZ level II techs, and they are trying to catch up with the changes themselves. They would work with a DX, going through the steps with me to try to work out glitches, and their devices were bugging out, too.

i have almost finished dialing in what i hope is my third and final DX replacement, and i have determined that Gingerbread crumbles as a replacement for the rock steady Froyo. My essential Andro Market apps such as MultiScreen Wallpaper and Missed Reminder that worked flawlessly before the “upgrade,” are lagging, freezing, or not working at all. The conflicts are many and complicated, and who knows if and when app developers will get around to trying to resolve the issues, especially when Gingerbread is inherently unstable in this particular device.

The Froyo to Gingerbread changeover is comparable to Microsoft’s Vista changeover from the well-respected XP OS. And we all know how that story ended.

Sydney8908

I did the new update and my phone starts up normally but once the screen turns off it won’t turn back on nor will it receive calls/texts/etc. How do I revert it back?

Nineironputt

Is it just my phone or did they do away with the headphones plugged in for FM radio, says app no longer available. Still showing under applications, but as being 0bytes. Bummer… I liked using it..

Scott

It is the 30th and there is no update for my Droid x for GB???? What gives?

Mrwsga88

Anybody got the update today

Alan

So I shouldnt have my droid x roots for this?

Buckgrad

Anyone know if the earlier links to unrooted GB still work? Any suggestions as to the best one? Droid X on stock froyo here. Not sure I want to go the way of the ota if will not be able to root in the future. Still playing with the idea of rooting, so don’t want to lose the possibility. But also don’t like hearing that rooted users may not be able to access things in the future, like Google movjes, etc. Input anyone?

Inkster09

Czech meant vzw sorry spell check ansmd typing to fast

Inkster09

Verizon is terrible they will never have vanil la android hence no nexus devices. When consumers learn more about android and the crap motor and vzw put on their phones, ie makes it slow and jittery either Czech will have to change or the real android community will leave vzw. Yeah their network is good but true android enthuist will leave vzw. They products are outdated, lye won’t work with dual core or blur or TW or vzw bloatware. Thyself why there is no bionic and won’t ever be. Vzw is in there own world

Looks like I need to upgrade to 595 from 591 and hope 596 is rooted quick.

Anonymous

The fact that my phone may not be rooted anymore isn’t a big concern to me. I don’t really use any of the root capabilities anymore, aside from using a ROM.

Anonymous

I really wanted to update to Gingerbread, but if it eliminates my root access, then I guess I’ll just wait until XDA or others make root for Gingerbread.

Joy2great

What happen if you just accept the update on a rooted phone?

Goatweed

so…right now I’m on a rooted .340 which I SBF’d to before I rooted. I had tried to install GB once but it didn’t work (boot loop issue) so I stuck with froyo thinking official GB would be out eventually and rooted. the official rollout (.596) of GB as of now is NOT rootable – is that correct? And if I want root on GB I need to load a leaked build like .595 – which I tried before and failed at?

So if all of that is accurate, I can either refuse the update and stay they way I am now or take the update and enjoy GB but not have access to any of my root-friendly apps.

Is that the gist?

Scott in MA

It would be excellent if this is released to us tomorrow. (Happens to be my 21st wedding anniversary.)
I just hope it is for real. I will look to this site to tell me when to go look for it.

Scott in MA

It would be excellent if this is released to us tomorrow. (Happens to be my 21st wedding anniversary.)
I just hope it is for real. I will look to this site to tell me when to go look for it.

Cubsoxs87

Wont gingerbreak work to root it

Cubsoxs87

Wont gingerbreak work to root it

Steve

Could this mean the Droid 2 isn’t far behind?

Heyimsteve029

All thanks to me for this update, because, of course, I finally installed the rooted .595 last night, and I wake up to see this. Oh well, at least I have root!

Joe12304

Update my D2!

Anonymous

Where is a reference to Verizon saying this please?

Roberto Taylor

I read Gingerbreak would be able to root this. Is this not true?

Goodwidp

So, assuming that I’m rooted now (Droid X) and I want to remain with root, should I just hold off on accepting the OTA until there is a rooted version of GB released? Can I get in trouble with VZW or any other drawbacks to not accepting (aside from not experiencing the new features of GB) or will I be fine waiting for GB Root? Thanks all.

John

Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Rain_king46

Does anybody know if the soak test has been started? I assume since the normal guys havent posted a rooted version yet that it hasnt.

Rain_king46

The Verizon announcement of the 27th has me thrown off. That means even if the soak starts today they will only have one day of feedback before they release to the masses? That seems counter productive.

Chad

I was thinking the exact same thing!

Johnediii

I had the feeling all along that the soak test may not be for GB all along anyway. Most of us have been “testing” GB for a long time. Let’s be honest, Moto isn’t ignorant to what goes on with Android so they’ve probably been watching the Forums to see how it’s working. I have no reason for this. It may be wishful thinking that the soak test is for something newer and better.

Rain_king46

If I remember correctly Moto did something very similar when they were releasing Froyo. The soak testers got the upload and like a day later everybody got it. The soak testers all reported a few issues including text message problems, Active sync problems, music player peoblems, etc. Moto was supposed to release a patch to fix these issues, some issues got fixed, some got bandaids like Moto offering free TouchDown licenses to users who needed activesync. I really dont understand the thinking behind many of Motos decisions.

Ozyman666

So if I’m rooted with Liberty 2.0.1, do I SBF or wait for the inevitable Liberty Gingerbread?

JoeyMalcomb

Noob here. When this update goes through, I’ll still have all my apps, right? Will my widgets still be in place (or will I have to set up my phone like it’s brand new)?

steve0617

No promises, but what should happen is after the update, everything is back exactly as it was before. Reality? Back up everything (My Backup Pro is good) in case anything screws up and you need to do a factory reset.

Anonymous

So where’s Ice Cream Sandwich?! I neeeed it . I can’t live without Ice Cream Sandwich. Pleeeeeze.

SugaShane

I really don’t care if it unroots my DX. I just want it to come out so I don’t have to hear about it anymore.

Anonymous

Still somewhat new to rooting. Haven’t tried putting any ROMs on my DX. Still running stock 2.3.340. I know I will have to un-root before trying this, but will I have to SBF back to stock 2.3.340 before updating when GB comes out? Any help will be appreciated!

KakaPooPoo

Anyone that thinks this won’t get rooted within a few days is crazy. That is all.

Daniel Rowen

I’ve been running .595 on my Droid 2 and absolutely loving the new blur and overall improvement in battery life and performance under Gingerbread. It’s like an entirely new phone that performs better than when I bought it a year ago! Mind you I’ve rooted and loaded ZombieStomped 1.7, but the blur that’s here is great.

Anonymous

I hope that the “enhancements” do not include more bloatware like the Froyo upgrade did. It will be interesting to see what the “cost” is for this upgrade considering all the new phones have so many “extras” in the way of VZApps installed. (17 if I remember correctly on the Samsung Charge). Will VZW be “giving” us these “apps” as well under the guise of “improved user experience”?

John

you’d be silly to think it wouldn’t come with its share of bloatware. =P

Anonymous

Oh, I don’t expect them to REMOVE what is already there, I guess I am just hoping against hope that they are not going to add MORE to the mix.

Droid X owner as well as Macbook user… needless to say, some apps and tweaks just don’t sync well with my laptop. I wish this leak came with a screenshot feature. I’ve had a hard time finding an app or simple way to take any screenshots.

Eswebb

I’m with you on both accounts – hope someone can provide some insight…

I assume you guys are non-rooted, right? There’s no easy way to screenshot if you aren’t unfortunately. If you are rooted, an app like shootme will work very easily.

MrC1122

try drocap2

Dominick7777

The only way I’ve found to be able to get screenshots is by using the MyPhoneExplorer app, but it’s for Windows, don’t know if it works on Apples OS for desktop. It’s basically like a Microsoft Outlook but with the ability to create screenshots when the Droid X is connected to the PC. Works very well. Could never get the that convoluted Java way to get screenshots to work.

Dominick7777

This works for an unrooted phone btw unlike most other apps. And no I’m not affiliated with them, it just works and I’m happy to finally be able to get screenshots of my Droid X screens.

Amm5890

will gingerbreak root this version…i remember seeing on drew garens site that we should not accept the ota update if we want to stay rooted

LivinFree

No Gingerbreak will not work on the OTA update. None of the known rooting process work on it at all so there is no way to root it, at least not at this time. Google patched the exploit in the source code.

Matreyu13

aw man, I was waiting for the OTA THEN i was finally going to do my first root since i’m figuring this will be the last OTA the DX will be getting.

Mike

This is why I don’t understand why the exploits were released on leaked builds. If you’re smart, you wait until the OTA update to release your root exploit so they can’t fix it. Dur da durr…

Trophynuts

the awesome thing is that letter doesn’t describe all of the goodies that will come with this update. And no matter what some people say this build is and will be faster than froyo even at the stock non rooted level.

AmadHTCcustomer

Will stick to froyo 4ever.

GB has nothing I want.
And it isn’t much faster, if faster at all.

Anonymous

Did you try Gingerbread on the DX? In my opinion there was a noticeable difference.

Anonymous

Did you try Gingerbread on the DX? In my opinion there was a noticeable difference.

no, as long as you’re running foryo stock(w/ bloatware etc in tact) + just rooted. it’ll just break your root (ugh, possibly even losing it forever?) when u accept the OTA

Doc

apparently when you update to GB you go back in time by one hour

Anonymous

Until its rooted, dont want.

Sanderson

Droid X, non-rooted, leaked GB .588…can I receive the OTA update, or do I need to go back to Froyo? If so, how do I go back to 2.2 w/o having to do a massive reloading of all my apps and stuff?

Anonymous

you’ll need to revert to .240 froyo to take the update. The best way to do that, unfortunately, requires root. Titanium Backup Pro has a back backup option, which can backup all your apps and data for said apps with one click, and restore is also that easy. It can keep all your settings and apps, and save on your SDcard, then once you’re back on froyo you can restore.

without root? well, you don’t have much option. So at least root to backup then it’ll be undone when you revert to stock.

Sanderson

I’ve never tried rooting my phone before…is there a good guide somewhere that you would recommend to make it easy?

Skeetch79

Rooting your phone back? I think you mean SBF’ing. You will need RSD Lite 4.9 and the SBF file (VRZ_MB810_2.3.34_1FF_01.sbf). Help and download links can be found over at http://www.mydroidworld.com.

Skeetch79

sorry disregard my post, i read your question incorrectly.

To root Froyo you can use Z4Root found over at XDA-Developers: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=833953 (you need to register though, it is free and easy)

Thanks for the help, Skeetch…this shiite is so confusing. I wish I had just left my phone with Froyo to begin with and waited for the OTA GB. I’d like to try rooting sometime, but it is a company account phone and I don’t want to screw it up. I’ve got one more year left before i can get a new company phone, so I gotta be careful with this baby.

Skeetch79

You need to SBF back to 2.3.340 (not .240) – this is the only software version that will accept the OTA. You do not need to unroot – but you will lose it with the OTA.

Anonymous

Nobody really know about what will be upgradeable.

However, you do not need to root. Just sbf back to .340 (google it)

Sanderson

I assume you mean .240?

Skeetch79

You need to SBF back to 2.3.340 (not .240) – this is the only software version that will accept the OTA. You do not need to unroot – but you will lose it with the OTA.

Sanderson

I’m not rooted…straight up stock. I guess sbf doesn’t work with non-rooted phones?

SBF works with non rooted phones you’ll just lose your data during the factory reset/wipe segment of SBFing

Skeetch79

You can SBF both non-rooted and rooted phones. As Dakota said,you will loose all your data – but your phone could re-download all your apps once you activate and sign back in – you just wont have any saved game or game progress data.

Sanderson

I’m not rooted…straight up stock. I guess sbf doesn’t work with non-rooted phones?

Skeetch79

You need to SBF back to 2.3.340 (not .240) – this is the only software version that will accept the OTA. You do not need to unroot – but you will lose it with the OTA.

Once you activate your phone and sign in after SBF’ing your apps should all sync up and download – worse case scenario you will need to re-download them all.

If you are currently rooted I suggest using Titanium Backup to backup all “User Apps and Data” under the “Batch” option. SBF to Froyo .340, re-root and if your phone does not sync and redownload all your apps, then restore them with Titanium Backup once rooted – “Batch” option then “Restore User Apps and Data”

Anyone know if the “fixes” to active sync include notifications to email that gets assigned to subfolders? Froyo doesn’t push subfolders at all, the first leak I tried would push subfolders, but you wouldn’t get notified of new email that came into subfolders, only the inbox.

All the same, untill someone comes up wth a root for it AND the ability to wifi tether, I’ll probably just stick with Liberty 2.0 🙂

absolutely! i give it maybe a week before the community finds a workaround. plus, the pros of being rooted heavily outweigh the cons.

RoomTenONine

Right now the benefits of rooting and removing bloat far outweigh any potential lack of blockbuster video support (or even Netflix). The community will find a workaround I’m sure.

Anonymous

I have not done anything to my dX except root and turn off a bunch of crapware by changing file names to .bak; do I need to undo all those changes before gingerbread drops to my phone? I haven’t really been paying close attention to all of this stuff lately, so I don’t want to screw it up. Do I need to unroot as well?

Does anyone know if the sync for contacts is fixed? I mean like, my pictures for my contacts never update now.

scotty89

the questions of “Do I need to rollback to Froyo” remind me of the 2.2 OTA for the Incredible….fight the urge folks, do not root and custom ROM your phone until you’re completely intelligent on how to operate these phones. Patience, Patience, Patience…..and this is coming from a guy that has NO clue how to do all this stuff. Tried with my Dinc but said F it after I nearly bricked my phone.

will the device check disabled netflix apk still work on gb or was it just for froyo? i know there where different netflix hacks for people running different things on their phones. if so i might as well stay on 2.2 lol till they make an official netflix app for the x

Anonymous

I see a lot of Exchange ActiveSync improvements. Does this mean full compatibility with Exchange 2010 SP1?

Alright. I know I’m an idiot, but if I’m rooted now, do I need to figure out how to un-root in order to not kill my phone with the OTA? I can live with it if the OTA un-roots me, but i’d rather my phone not die in my hands lol

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